The chronic disease lasts for a long time, sometimes for years - the almost complete disappearance of the signs of pathology can be replaced by a period of recurrence, and then the body is covered with a rash again. These are the characteristic symptoms of skin psoriasis. It is necessary to know everything about the disease, including how psoriasis looks in the initial stage, because it depends on the rapid detection and treatment of the disease.
Causes of disease
The main factors in the development of the disease are the genetic predisposition transmitted by parents and close relatives, and a weakened immune system that cannot cope with its functions.
This is a non-infectious skin lesion, so don’t be afraid to get infected by close contact with sick people. It is another matter when the disease that causes unpleasant, painful sensations and itching is accompanied by scratching. Through microscopic wounds and damage to the epidermis, any infection quickly enters the bloodstream and the person becomes infected.
Many causes that can lead to disease are known in medicine:
- Pathologies of the endocrine organs, which include hormonal changes;
- Regular stress, strong experiences and shocks lead to the same disorders;
- Improper nutrition, lack of nutrients, minerals and vitamins can cause psoriasis;
- Low immunity, weakened due to bad habits, lack of vitamin D3 and silicon, nervous shocks, frequent colds and hypothermia;
- Unfavorable living conditions and climate;
- Violation of metabolic processes, especially in the layers of the skin, which is why it is exactly necessary to hit the disease in the form of an itchy rash.
Medications taken can also lead to anomalies, if they have a long course and have a strong effect, the body's immune response to allergens can be an aggravating factor. And, of course, the onset of psoriasis is often associated with previous infections that have not been completely cured or have had serious complications.
The defeat of the disease is local and general in nature, when the human body represents one continuous crust of ulcers joined together. In this regard, it is worth considering the stages of psoriasis, because they differ in their course and symptoms.
Types of diseases by the nature of the flow
The disease develops cyclically - this is a gradual change and increase in typical symptoms.
There are three main phases:
- Progressive psoriasisThere are two main phases. During the first, a characteristic rash actively develops which causes the patient an unpleasant burning sensation, pain, severe itching. As a result, normal appetite, sleep is disturbed, the person is prone to irritability, depression, neurosis at this time. The second phase is remission, restoration of the normal appearance and condition of the epidermis, pigmentation spots remain at the site of psoriatic sores, slightly darker than normal skin color. The progressive phase is a typical clinical picture of a chronic disease. When there is no treatment, rehabilitation periods are short and worsening of the pathology can be expected again very quickly;
- Stationary phase of psoriasis- this is a stable condition of the patient, when the symptoms do not disappear, but no new papules appear. At the same time, the growth of existing stains, which begin to actively peel, temporarily stops. The patient harbors hope that after peeling the red plaques raised above the skin will heal and disappear, but this does not happen - after one stratum corneum appears another and so on the infinitum. At least during the stationary phase of psoriasis, the patient does not feel unbearable itching, leading to scratches and insomnia;
- The last stage- regression period. Over a period of time there is a gradual reduction of plaque-like scabs, wounds heal, between them appear clean areas of the epidermis, until the rash completely disappears, leaving only residual pigmentation of painful areas.
Psoriasis has a long course. In some patients, complications most often occur in winter and autumn, in others the sun's rays affect the worsening of the condition, however, there is a variant of off-season worsening, when relapse can occur at any time of the year. In general, there are several cases of disease progression during the year.
To understand how psoriasis begins, it is worth considering its primary symptoms.
Initial phase: characteristic manifestations
Pathology almost always occurs suddenly, for no apparent reason, although, of course, it exists. The trigger may be a cold, stress at work, mild food poisoning, or an allergic reaction.
Many are interested in how psoriasis manifests, because initially a person can replace small reddish nodules scattered in different parts of the body for an allergic rash. And if it is a pustular appearance, then small blisters with pus appear on the epidermis, which can easily be confused with urticaria. Moreover, in some cases the initial stage is accompanied by itching. Therefore, the question of whether psoriasis itches in the initial stage in this type of skin lesions can be answered in the affirmative.
The main element of the rash is a flat, slightly raised nodule of pink or red color; this inflammation has a surface layer on which are small plates of dry horny scales. A detailed examination shows that the stratum corneum is first located in the very center of the inflammatory focus and then grows over the entire surface of the plaque.
The location of the rash is different - these are the inner and outer folds of the knee, elbow joints, the entire surface of the lower and upper extremities, hands, palms and soles, groin, gluteal region, back, chest. The elements of the rash tend to appear on the ears and behind them, cover the scalp under the hair, appear on any part of the face, and sometimes on the genitals, especially in men.
The elements of the rash scattered all over the body were overgrown with gray scabs in just two or three days. In medicine, this is called the scoring form of the disease.
After that, new ulcers continue to grow, after which they can join and merge into solid areas. A characteristic of the pathology is that papules can also appear at the site of bruises and other injuries if the disease begins to progress.
If the appearance of the first inflammation is usually not accompanied by itching, with a progressive course it becomes painful and then the patient should be treated with local hormonal drugs.
Initiated psoriasis can lead the patient to a difficult physical and mental condition.
Plaque growths interfere with walking, sitting, and performing simple human actions. In addition, patients with this disease are prone to severe nervous and mental illnesses.
Some forms cause destruction of blood vessels, nerve endings, joints, psoriatic lesions can destroy even bone tissue. Without treatment, a person can be disabled, so you need to go to the doctor in case of early manifestations of the disease.
Diagnosis and treatment
Before conducting laboratory and instrumental examinations, the physician is faced with the task of obtaining a comprehensive description of the patient’s complaints, studying the causes of the disease, and determining the genetic relationship with the onset of the pathology.
To determine the disease, there is a specific functional test. If there are three main elements (psoriatic trio), which are characterized by the presence of a stearin stain, a layer of pink cells and bleeding caused by vascular damage, then an accurate diagnosis can already be made.
In the future, procedures such as:
- Biopsy of samples of affected skin tissue;
- Bacteriological culture to determine infection in the focus of inflammation;
- Clinical blood test for leukocyte concentration;
- Immunological test for allergic predisposition;
- X-ray, ultrasound, determination of the condition of internal organs, joint cavities, bones;
- Differential diagnosis helps to rule out diseases such as syphilis, seborrheic eczema, pink lichen, rheumatism and other disorders with similar symptoms.
In most cases, it is impossible to permanently get rid of the pathology, but earlier treatment can help reduce the number and quality of relapses, up to long periods of regression.
Complex treatment offers:
- Conservative therapy with steroid and nonsteroidal drugs, psychotropic drugs that alleviate the patient's depression;
- Also, funds are prescribed to reduce the allergic response of the immune system, which allows you to eliminate edema, itching and reduce the course of the inflammatory process;
- Hormonal drugs are prescribed to suppress inflammation and relieve pain in severe forms;
- The patient must take vitamin products that help increase the body's defenses;
- Topically applied ointments and creams to alleviate patient well-being based on herbs and sometimes hormones.
People suffering from chronic skin diseases must lead a healthy lifestyle, give up an inappropriate diet and carry out water procedures on a daily basis to avoid complications of the disease. And of course, for successful rehabilitation you need to see a doctor as soon as possible.